Trauma Healing: Equipping leaders to minister to the most vulnerable

“AE has been conducting Trauma Healing in South Sudan since the violent outbreaks began several years ago.”

Violence and war have left a deep scar on the nations of Africa and on the hearts of many affected most acutely by it. African Enterprise has been challenged during recent years by the number of people who are victims of violence. The need is truly overwhelming.

AE has been conducting Trauma Healing in South Sudan since the violent outbreaks began several years ago. Our programs there have had much success, however, these valuable skills had not been passed onto other nations within the AE Family who could greatly benefit from them. Nations like Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC, among others, have an immediate need for the skills to assist the vulnerable.

It has been AE’s endeavor to bring Trauma Healing Programs into all our teams so that they are equipped in all circumstances to bring the freedom of Christ into the lives of the lost.

In late August, the opportunity arose to send our National Team Leaders to Kigali, Rwanda to take part in a Trauma Healing Course led in partnership with The Bible Society. The well established, Biblically-based training focused on teaching leaders how to assist the victims of trauma in finding peace, forgiveness and a path forward.

The AE Team Leaders were blessed and encouraged by the training which they believe will have an enormous impact on their ministry and help them more effectively reach the vulnerable with the Gospel.

Paul Wassawa, leader of AE Uganda said, “I am thankful for this training and the material that we received. I believe it will be particularly useful in our work with pastors. We often encounter pastors who are wounded while trying to help others. Sadly, they often do more damage than good. They first must experience healing before they help others find healing. Now we have the skills to help them.”

He continued, “Our mission in Kampala is coming very soon and I look forward to using some of these principles as we reach out to the local and national leaders. We find that many leaders are wounded and in need of inner healing. Healed leaders will serve the continent of Africa better.”

Guide Makore of AE Zimbabwe said, “I was surprised at how much this training ministered to me personally. I feel that I have experienced healing and I am now able to help others more effectively. I also feel that I have more understanding and compassion for those who have been traumatized.”

“This training will add so much value to our ministry in Zimbabwe,” he continued, “which has seen a rise in unrest and violence this year. We are planning to establish at least two Trauma Healing Groups before the end of this year and utilize this training in our upcoming mission to the University of Zimbabwe.”

AE is so thankful for the partnership of The Bible Society and their invaluable skills in this area. At the conclusion of the training all AE Team Leaders committed to starting Trauma Healing Groups in their respective nations. Pray for the ministry of African Enterprise in South Sudan specifically which has a large population of people who have been traumatized by war or violence. Our heart is for them and their nations to be healed by the saving grace of our loving Father, Jesus Christ.

When AE Uganda began preparing for this mission over a year ago, they found that there were deep divisions in the local churches and some refused to work together at all. Before we could do effective outreach to the city, we first had to help heal the divisions within the churches.

Hundreds of mission volunteers arrived at the Buskenyi Slum in western Kampala to clean the streets as an act of love and service to the community. The streets and gutters were piled high with rubbish and filth, but our team faithfully cleaned and witnessed to the community about Christ’s love.

In the last four years over 200 children have been trained in a variety of vocational skills including: dress making and tailoring, computing, hairdressing and beauty, aluminium fabrication and auto mechanics. The young people are also taught the Gospel,...